Emergency services rushed to property on Seaton Drive after blaze breaks out at 2am and leaves 49-year-old woman in hospital.

A house fire that left a woman hospitalised is being treated as attempted murder police say.

Emergency services rushed to the terraced property on Irvine’s Seaton Drive in the early hours of Friday morning to tackle the blaze.

This week a 49-year-old woman is still in hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation, with her condition described as “stable” following the fire.

Police are now treating the incident as willful fire-raising and attempted murder after the blaze broke out shortly after 2am on Friday, March 14.

Detective Sergeant Ian Ross from Saltcoats CID said: “We are carrying out extensive inquiries including door to door inquiries to trace the person responsible and discover the motive for the fire. I would like to appeal to a man who was described as wearing dark clothing who was seen in the area around the time of the fire to get in touch as he may have information which can help our inquiry.

“I would also appeal to anyone who was in the area last night and saw anything suspicious or anyone hanging around to contact me.”

Fire crews from Kilwinning and Dreghorn attended the scene where they quickly rescued the woman.

Station Manager Gregor McPherson said: “The incident commander sent four firefighters in breathing apparatus into the two-storey terraced property to conduct a search and rescue operation and tackle the flames. They quickly found and rescued a woman who was inside the house at the time.”

“Specialist officers from our Fire Investigation Unit in Glasgow attended the scene and they are working closely with Police Scotland to establish the circumstances surrounding the fire.”